The life and times of a displaced 'southern' American living and working overseas.. who sometimes finds time to knit.
I started my blog while living in Korea, then I moved to Germany, and I just moved to northern Italy (November 2012). I am: iwouldratherknit on ravelry

Monday, April 8, 2013

Spring Break Day 1... about the time that I went on an outing, and had lunch that did a 'gal's heart GOOD... and I mean... real.... GOOD!!!!

Yesterday, when I went to the market... I had noticed 'what' looked like a very easy to get to little shopping area and I decided to go back today. I found a very large grocery store, that was open, and a few other shops that were closed today. Many stores do close on Mondays... and I took a chance that they 'might' not be closed. I found enough interesting places there that I'll go back tomorrow morning when the shops are open. This area is less than 3 miles from my house- but, in a different direction than I've traveled so far.On the way, to this little shopping area, out of the corner of my eye... I had noticed a Trattoria on the side of the road- so, I thought that 'if' it was open... that I'd stop at it on my way home for lunch. After all, it is spring break, and something fun like having lunch out would be pretty special- because, my lunch usually takes 15 minutes 'eating at my desk' and then I start grading papers and doing other 'teacher-y' stuff.

See nothing fancy and the family usually lives upstairs.

A trattoria is usually a small family owned place to eat with home-made food. This is the reason that I wanted to stop.

Right on the highway on my way home. The last line says: Closed on Wednesdays. I forgot to check to see if they were open at night too.

Freshly grated cheese. The full menu is listed above. The bread was home-made, soft, and fresh. Very good. I also ordered plain natural water (no gas).

I got the Fettuccine with asparagus. The pasta was homemade and delicious!

The daily menu usually consists of whatever what cooked that day. No other options are available. I was able to select one item from each of the 3 groups.While I was eating... I did notice more people arriving behind me... chairs being pulled out, waitresses walking around delivering the different courses. I found the food amazing and since this place was only about 2 miles from my house-- I had already decided that I would certainly go to this place again in the future.

Before I left, I went to the bathroom and this is when I realized that I had been sitting in a room FULL OF ONLY MEN!!! MEN having lunch during the workday. Yes, there I was sitting in a room with over 50 men and I was the only female. I did notice that I was getting a few glances from the two tables closest to me... but, of course... now, that I'm getting a 'little older'... I just assume that they are looking at me because ... I was talking in English to the waitress, or maybe it was because I was taking photos of my food??? However, when I went to the bathroom. I did also notice that when I had pulled my small 'ID/Money' wallet on a long strap 'over' my head... I had caused my hair to be all skewed and standing up in all different directions... which isn't easy to do with really straight hair. No, it might have been because I was the only female in the place.Either that, or I was sitting there (early upon arrival only) taking photos of my food, with my hair sticking straight up... in a 'doesn't she know how horrible her hair looks' kind of way... not in any sort of 'this is the way the cool kids' are wearing their hair nowadays way. I quickly snapped a photo of the room (way more men than this are actually in the room too) as I was departing the bathroom at the back of the room.No matter what... this is truly the first time that I have ever had a meal with THAT MANY PEOPLE in a room... and I was the ONLY FEMALE!!!

I guess it's like they say in the states... 'if' you can find a place to have lunch where all the everyday workers are eating.. it's a pretty good place to eat and cheap too.